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DSWD vows to address challenges in ‘Karding’ relief efforts

By Zaldy De Layola

September 27, 2022, 8:03 pm

<p><em>(File photo)</em></p>

(File photo)

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) spokesperson Romel Lopez acknowledged Tuesday the challenges to their relief efforts due to Super Typhoon Karding but made sure to address all of these, with the equally important ones are shared by other involved agencies.

Lopez gave much importance to the distribution of food packs to the families, especially those who were displaced by “Karding.”

He said the DSWD has been monitoring a total of 122,725 individuals as of Tuesday morning, with the assistance of local government units (LGUs) in the affected areas.

“Sapat naman po iyong ating mga stockpiles [ng food]… masaya po tayong ibabalita sa ating mga kababayan na nasa 249,352 po iyong ating mga family food packs na available po sa lugar na iyan and then continuous naman po iyong ating repacking doon sa ating National Resource Operations Center (We have enough stockpiles of food. We are happy to inform you that the 249,352 family food packs are available in that area and our repacking of relief goods at NROC continues),” Lopez said.

The areas under being monitored as ordered by DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo are Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, National Capital Region and Cordillera regions.

Lopez said around 1,057 barangays in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and Bicol regions are the focus of DSWD’s relief efforts.

There are about 31,354 individuals in 552 evacuation centers in these regions, aside from more than a thousand individuals outside the designated evacuation centers, he added.

He said a total of PHP2.6 million worth of assistance has already been distributed by the government to typhoon victims, including PHP1.7 million from DSWD and PHP876,000 from the LGUs. (PNA)

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